Adnan Syed, the man who was convicted of killing his ex-girlfriend Hae Min Lee and whose case gained national attention through the popular podcast “Serial,” had his conviction reinstated by a Maryland appellate court on Tuesday. Syed had spent over two decades behind bars before a judge vacated his conviction in a September hearing, leading to Syed’s release. However, the appellate court’s recent ruling now reinstates his conviction.
The appellate court cited the violation of the rights of the victim’s brother, Young Lee, to attend a key hearing as the reason for the reinstatement. The court said that the lower court had violated Mr. Lee’s right to notice of, and his right to attend, the hearing on the State’s motion to vacate. As a result, the appellate court has ordered a new hearing on the motion to vacate, where Mr. Lee is given notice of the hearing and is allowed to attend in person.
The decision to vacate Syed’s conviction came nearly eight years after the podcast dug into the case and raised questions about the conviction and Syed’s legal representation. In explaining her decision to vacate, Baltimore City Circuit Judge Melissa Phinn cited material in the state investigation that was not properly turned over to defense attorneys, as well as the existence of two suspects who may have been improperly cleared as part of the investigation.
Lee’s brother had requested a redo of that hearing, arguing in part that he didn’t have enough notice to attend in person. Attorneys for Lee previously alleged in court documents that prosecutors and the circuit court that overturned Syed’s conviction had violated the brother’s rights. They alleged that the court had failed to give him adequate notice, withheld evidence from the family, and not given the brother a proper chance to be heard at the proceedings.
Syed’s attorney, Erica Suter, and director of the Innocence Project Clinic said the appellate court reinstated the conviction “not because the Motion to Vacate was erroneous, but because Ms. Lee’s brother did not appear in person at the vacatur hearing.” She added that there is no basis for re-traumatizing Adnan by returning him to the status of a convicted felon, and for the time being, Adnan remains a free man. The attorney also said that they intend to seek review in Maryland’s highest court, the Supreme Court of Maryland, and will continue to fight until Adnan’s convictions are fully vacated.
The decision to reinstate Syed’s conviction has caused mixed reactions, with Lee’s family expressing their delight with the court’s decision, while Syed’s attorney and supporters continue to fight for his exoneration. The case has captured the attention of many people around the world, and its outcome will be watched closely by those interested in justice and legal proceedings.
Adnan Syed’s case gained widespread attention after it was featured in the “Serial” podcast in 2014. The podcast re-examined the case and raised questions about Syed’s guilt and the fairness of his trial. It also introduced the case to a global audience and sparked public interest in the criminal justice system.
Syed was convicted in 2000 of murdering his ex-girlfriend Hae Min Lee, who was found strangled in a park in Baltimore. Syed has maintained his innocence throughout the trial and subsequent appeals. In 2016, a judge vacated Syed’s conviction and ordered a new trial, citing ineffective assistance of counsel during the original trial. The state appealed the decision, leading to the latest ruling by the Maryland Court of Special Appeals.
Syed’s case has been the subject of intense scrutiny and debate, with supporters of his innocence arguing that the evidence against him was weak and circumstantial. The case has also highlighted issues with the criminal justice system, including racial bias and wrongful convictions.
The latest ruling means that Syed’s conviction has been reinstated and he could face a new trial. However, his defense team has indicated that they plan to appeal the decision to the state’s highest court, the Supreme Court of Maryland. Syed’s attorney has also said that they will continue to fight to have his conviction fully vacated.
The case has also had a significant impact on the true crime genre, with “Serial” and other podcasts and documentaries exploring similar cases and the flaws in the criminal justice system. The case has sparked public interest in wrongful convictions and has led to calls for reform in the justice system.
source: https://edition.cnn.com/2023/03/28/us/adnan-syed-conviction-reinstated-maryland/index.html